Island



(No Model.)

v. A..TH01VIAS. D-ETAGHABLE STEP FOR POLES.

Patented Sept. 22, 1891.

INVENTDR.

T u flfihmnas.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

VAN A. THOMAS, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR F ONE HALF TO ANDRENV D. ROSS, OF SAME PLACE.

DETACHABLE STEP FOR POLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 459,844, dated September 22, 1891.

Application filed December 27, 1890. Serial No. 375,982. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern; Figure 1 is a side elevation of a pole embody-t Y,

Be it known that I, VAN A. THOMAS, a citiing my improvement. Fig. 2 is a side view, j zen of the United States, residing at Provienlarged, of my invention. Fig. 3 is'ia plan deuce, in the county of Providence and State View. Fig.4 is a side view in partial section 55 5 of Rhode Island, have invented certain new showing the device as in use. Fig. 5 is a front and usefullmprovements in Detachable Steps View of the base or plate, which in use is perfor Poles; and I do hereby declare the followmanently secured to the pole. Fig. 6 is an ing to be a full, clear, and exact description end view of the removable step or bracket; of the invention, such as will enable others and Fig.7 is a side elevation,the plate being 6o 10 skilled in the art to which it appertains to in section, showing the manner of inserting make and use the same, reference being had and removing the step. to the accompanying drawings, and to letters A more detailed description of my invenof reference marked thereon, which form a tion, including the manner of its operation, is part of this specification. as follows: I 5 l 5 In ascending and descending poles used for A, again referring to the drawings, indicates supporting conducting-wires, cables, &c., emthe device as a whole, the same consisting of ployed for electric lighting, telephonic, or telethe socketed base or plate portion 1), adapted graphic purposes it has been usual heretofore to be permanently fixed to the pole, and the for the lamp-trimmers, linemen, and others removable bracket or step proper a. The 70 2 who in the execution of their duties are reparts may be made of brass or other suitable quired to mount the poles to carry about with metal, although I prefer to make them of them a short ladder to enable them to reach brass, especially when they are to be used the lowest one of a series of conveniently-aroften, as on electric-light poles.

ranged permanent short steps secured to op- The plate I) is provided in front with upper 75 5 posite sides of the pole. Such fixed steps exand lower projections b b which form the tend,say, from the top of the pole downwardly respective sockets b b. The upper. or into within about six feet fromthe ground, the verted socket b is closed at the top, thereby latter part of the pole being unprovided with preventing dirt, 650., for collecting therein. steps or other means to faciltiate its ascent. This socket is somewhat wider than the bot- 8o 3 The omission of steps from this portion is tom one, which latter is open at top and hotdone to prevent unauthorized persons from tom. The back side of the socket b is conmounting the pole. An objection to poles cave, as clearly shown in Figs. 4 and 7. The thus unprovided with steps on its lower porplate itself is provided with holes adapted to tion is that it compels the linemen, 850., to receive screws to secure it to the side of the 85 carry with them a short ladder by which to pole. (See Fig. 4.)

mount and reach the first step. Obviously The step portion Ct is provided with an end the ladder not only increases the linemens or head arranged to enter the two sockets of burden, but it is very inconvenient to carry the plate I). The upper part of the said head it through crowded streets. extends above and at right angles to the main 9o 4 The object I have in View is to provide poles or horizontal portion of the step, its face being of the class before referred to with improved convex, so as to more freely enter and bear means by which they may be readily ascended against the back of the socket b The oppoby the linemen and at the same time dispenssite'or bottom end of the head is reduced lating with the use of portable ladders. erally to form a tenon a adapted to easily 5 To this end my invention consists of a douenter the lower socket b the sides of the head ble recessed or socketed plate arranged to be contiguous to the tenon when in use resting permanently secured to the pole and a step firmly upon the adjacent walls 19 of the having the top and bottom portions of an end socket. The length of the step is, say, about thereof arranged to interlock with the refour inches, or sufficient to form an easy rest Ice cessed plate. or support for the linemans foot in mounting In the accompanying sheet of drawings, the pole.

5 arranged on opposite sides of the pole, as

shown by Fig. 1, the lowest step s being, say, about six feet from the ground. In order to reach this step the linemen are forced to carry about with them a short ladder. By

LO means of my invention, however, ladders are dispensed with, the linemen having; to carry in their stead simply two or more of the steppieces atl1at is to say, the pole p is provided with the series of fixed steps 3, as usual,

I 5 but the lower portion of the pole intermediate of the lowest step and ground is provided with one or more plates 1), which are arranged and permanently secured to the pole, so as to form, when combined with. the removable 20 p eces a, a continuation of the series of steps bywhich to mount the pole.

Ne w, assu mi n g that'alineman be required to ascend the pole 1), he fi'rst takes from his pocket two steps a and afiixes them torthe two plates lathereby 25 forming steps by which he can readily reach the permanent steps Upon the completion of his duties he next, after descending to the ground, removes the two steps a from the plates and returns them to his po ket,the operation just described being successively repeated on other poles adapted to the purpose, as desired. Obviously by em ploying a greater number of loose steps a the lineman may mount to a correspondingly-inereased height if the pole be first provided with a similar number of permanent plates 1).

I claim as my invention- 1. Theim proved step for electric-light poles, the same consisting of a base or plate I), adapted to be secured to the pole, provided'on its front or outer face with upper and lower sock ets, and a step or bracket to, having an end arranged to enter and interlock with each of said sockets, substantially as hereinbefore set forth.

2. The combination of a plate I), having formed in its face a lower socket I) and an upper protected socket b and a removable step or bracket a, having an end arranged to enter each of said sockets and interlock there with, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have aliixed my nature in presence of two witnesses.

VAN A. THOMAS.

Witnesses.

CHARLES HANNIGAN, Geo. II. RnMINo'roN. 

